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In honor of our Veterans

On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

As President Abraham Lincoln said, “A nation that does not honor its heroes does not long endure.” Today, American honors those who have served in the uniform of her armed forces, whose ranks have included so many true American heroes -- from those storming redoubts at Yorktown to those who fought on Seminary Ridge at Gettysburg; from those who served under the waves in submarines to those manning bombers over Germany; from those signing up after December 7 to those signing up after September 11. Their service unifies America.

Brett and fellow Marines on his second tour in Iraq.

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Just as importantly, behind every veteran lies a family. Their courage is ever the greater for the uncertainty, the waiting, and, sometimes, the final farewell. Their courage unifies and inspires America.

And so today, America is unified in thanking veterans and their families for what their service and courage means to her.